Grace of repentance

What plunder does Jesus reclaim?

1. The enemy, "the strong man," cannot steal our chance for heaven.
2. Deacon Alfonsus Magnus reviewed Romans 8:38-39. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
3. We discussed the process of repentance and Sal spoke up about the thief on the cross next to Jesus. Even at the last moment, God's power to save was 100% available to the "good" thief.
4. Sal also brought up an example from Bishop Fulton Sheen.

It makes one think: Just how powerful IS the Holy Spirit?

CCC 539

The evangelists indicate the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation. Jesus fulfils Israel's vocation perfectly: in contrast to those who had once provoked God during forty years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as God's Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil's conqueror: he "binds the strong man" to take back his plunder. Jesus' victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.

Questions for next time

On July 30, we will study into Mark 3. Here are a few questions to think about:

1. Are the miracles of Jesus a sign of contradiction?
2. Jesus binds the strong man. What plunder does Jesus reclaim?
3. Where does the efficacy of repentance come from?

These and other questions will be our objectives early Thursday morning.

Relatives

The Greek words of Marks gospel for the relatives of Jesus (Mark 3:31-35) are:

1. μητηρ, mother
2. αδελφοι, brothers
3. αδελφαι, sisters

Items 2 and 3 are like the "-adelphia" in Philadelphia.

The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. In fact James and Joseph, "brothers of Jesus", are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls "the other Mary". They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression.

It is interesting that Jesus himself identifies kin by obedience to the Father.

About reading ahead for next Thursday

Have you peeked ahead into chapter 3 yet?

What do you make of the fact that Mark records another event on the Sabbath day? This we will have to talk over on Thursday, July 30.

Wrong message, right message

The concept we came back to several times was the distinction found in Jesus' admonition to tell no one. He wanted people to give out the right message, for the right reasons, not the wrong message for the wrong reasons, the new wine and new wine skins, not the old wineskins. We see this especially in Mark's message about baptism and repentance.

Make my day, Mark 2:8-11

Ken reads the "make my day" section, Mark 2:8-11, using the National Enquirer translation of the New Testament, which is popular in his old stomping grounds, Nordonia, Ohio.

Comments from today

Here are a few of the comments from the guys at this morning's Bible study session.

1. Why does Jesus undergo the baptism of John the Baptist?
   
   1. God the Father appears and verifies the Son.
   2. Jesus is showing us the way: he chooses to fulfill all righteousness in obedience to God the Father's plan, just as we ought to do. This is the foundation of the other questions.
   
   
2. Why does Jesus instruct so many NOT to tell others who he is?
   
   1. He does not want people to follow him so that he can become an earthly king or so that they can snag a free lunch.
   2. Instead of propagating the wrong message, he wants people to accept him on his own terms, or...
   3. New skins for new wine!
   4. As 1:38 says, "It is for this reason that I have come." He and his Abba have a reason.
   
   
3. If Jesus can heal leprosy, is it important to seek Him in the sacrament of confession?
   
   1. Afflictions, in old view, were because of sins or parents' transgressions.
   2. Are you going to confession for a free lunch or for love of God?
   3. Confession can be a stumbling block for some people. They accept the Church's teachings except for making confession.
   
   
4. In chapter 2, Jesus acts twice for a paralytic man. Why did he take the second action, healing the paralytic man's body?
   
   1. First off, this story is really about the 4 buddies who lowered the paralysed friend down from the roof.
   2. Never misunderestimate the power of prayer.
   3. Jesus has power and authority in both areas, so this is like Jesus saying, "Make my day."
   4. Man has body and soul, so Jesus heals both.
   5. The second healing visually confirms the unseen act of forgiveness.
   6. The "make my day" act is like Jesus saying, "This is the new wineskin!"
   
   
5. What was the price Jesus paid when he healed the paralytic man's body?
   
   1. Wrath of the Pharisees was the price he paid.
   2. Also, he continued to experience crowds and being jammed out into the wild places before he and his men could catch their breath or get 40 winks.
   3. Eventually, he would pay the ultimate price, at the Cross.
   
   
6. Why did Jesus openly have dinner with Levi and the other sinners and IRS agents?
   
   1. It was the reason he was on Earth: to call the sinners.
   2. He wanted to show his disciples how to be compassionate with sinners.
   3. It affirms that his forgiveness is true.
   4. This also connects to another famous dinner, the wedding at Cana.
   5. Another meal he has with us sinners is the Eucharist, the ultimate meal and act of worship, the source and summit of the Christian life.
   
   

Questions for next time

On July 23 we will finish up Mark 1 and push deeper into chapter 2. Here are some questions to think about for next time:

1. Why does Jesus undergo the baptism of John the Baptist?
   
2. Why does Jesus instruct so many NOT to tell others who He is?
   
3. If Jesus can heal leprosy, is it important to seek Him in the sacrament of confession?
   
4. In chapter 2, Jesus acts twice for a paralytic man. Why did take the second action, healing the paralytic man's body?
   
5. What was the price Jesus paid when he healed the paralytic man's body?
   

We will discuss these and other question on early this Thursday morning!

Notes and results from July 16, Mark 1

Our section of study was Mark's gospel chapter 1.

To set this first chapter of Mark into perspective, we also read John's gospel, chapter 1. The men made comments about Mark 1 compared to John 1, a few of which were:

1. Both gospels use the word "beginning."
   
2. Baptism of Jesus is in both.
   
3. In both, Jesus calls the first few of the disciples.
   
4. Neither cover the birth of the Messiah like Matthew and Luke.
   
5. John does not mention any healings yet, but Mark mentions several, including leprosy.
   
6. Mark details how-what-where-when information, but John discusses the meaning of the Word, especially in the first 18 verses.
   

We discussed several Greek words in the original text.

1. εξομολογουμενοι, confessing, which contains Greek roots we might recognize
   
   
   1. εξ, ex-, meaning out of
      
   2. ομο, homo-, meaning same as
      
   3. λογο, logo, meaning word
   
   
2. σχιζομενουs, being rent: notice the fragment σχιζ, which stands out as the root of our English word schism.
   
3. φωνη, voice, which is a root for our English words phone, phonetic etc.
   

We also discussed the Greek word in Mark 1:41, σπλαγχνισθειs, which literally means intestines, but which translates as compassion. Some of the men did not enjoy thinking about intestines. :) However, this word is only translated as real intestines in one place in the New Testament, and all other times as compassion. Philippians 2:1 contains another famous use of the word. We compared it to the English word balls which means one thing anatomically, but in many contexts means courage or gumption.

As a result of Jesus having compassion on the leper, He was forced to head for the hills with his men. He could not go openly into cities but had to rest up out in the lonely, desert places. This invites comparison to David, who also had to escape several times to the wild, desert places like Adullam.

Mark's gospel, chapter 1

We are studying Mark's gospel. We just finished several months' study through the story of David in 1st Samuel and 2nd Samuel.